Cresta Palace: Grand Hotel insider tip in the Engadin

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[Translate to en:] Cresta Palace Hotel

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Nowhere in the mountains are there as many grand hotels as in the Engadin. The sun-drenched and snow-sure high valley in the Swiss canton of Graubünden is a dream destination for discerning skiers. Connoisseurs will be familiar with many of the top hotels around St. Moritz. Nevertheless, there are still a few hotel gems to discover even for Engadin connoisseurs - the Cresta Palace in Celerina, for example.

The imposing building with the huge Swiss flag on the roof stands out in the middle of Celerina against the mighty peaks of the Corviglia ski area. The gondola lift up to the St. Moritz ski area starts right behind the hotel. If you ignore the few steps to the cable car and the valley run, the Cresta Palace practically offers a ski-in ski-out location. Very few grand hotels in the Engadin can boast such a ski-in ski-out location.
And only a few grand hotels manage the balancing act between tradition and modernity as well as the hotel in Celerina, which was founded around 120 years ago. The Cresta Palace proves that a sense of tradition need not be outdated. Entire floors were recently renovated at a cost of many millions of Swiss francs. 40 rooms and suites have already been thoroughly modernized with well-dosed Art Nouveau elements. Warm colors and a straightforward furniture design create a feel-good atmosphere.
The modernized Cresta rooms impressed me with their top luxury hotel standard, while the Classic rooms, which have not yet been renovated, look old-fashioned. Until these are also modernized, the Cresta Palace practically offers two hotel categories under one roof. So keep your eyes open when choosing a room!

The centerpiece and "place to be" of the Grand Hotel is the spacious Art Nouveau hall. In winter, there is no better place for a stylish après-ski. The Jugendstilhalle is also the perfect location for an aperitif before dinner. After a drink, you are spoiled for choice at the Cresta Palace: in the Grand Restaurant, where breakfast is also served with a view of the ski area, international classics with a regional touch are served under mighty chandeliers. In Giacomo's Ristorante, traditional Italian cuisine is served like in "Bella Italia". "Cheese & More" is the motto at Chäs-Beizli and at "Asia 75", authentic Asian cuisine is served by Thai chefs in the light-flooded gallery adjacent to the Art Nouveau hall.
Asia 75 was the idea of the young management couple, Annika Sosnizka-Tauss and Markus Tauss, who have brought a breath of fresh air to the Cresta Palace. The two combine the courage to try something new with respect for the tradition of the hotel.

Winter sports enthusiasts will not only appreciate the breath of fresh air in the traditional hotel, but also the facilities for skiers. In the ski cellar, each room has its own lockable equipment cupboard with a heated ski boot dryer. The spa is also a dream for winter sports enthusiasts. After a long day on the mountain, you can relax your muscles in the pool and unwind in the spacious sauna area.

Read more about the Cresta Palace and other Grand Hotels in the Engadin in the winter edition of Connoisseur Circle 4-2024.